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Bill Gates as the Science and Technology Advisory Council

President Barack Obama has named one of the two successors of Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates to the Science and Technology Advisory Council, a move that will put the man in charge with building Microsoft's future side by side with Eric Schmidt, the chief executive officer of rival Google. Following his pseudo-retirement from the Redmond company, Gates split his role into two with Ray Ozzie, now chief software architect, and Craig Mundie, now chief research and strategy officer, dividing the responsibilities between them, the latter of which has been selected for the Science and Technology Advisory Council.

PCAST is designed to function as an advisory group whose role is intimately connected with developing science- and technology-related policy for the US. This council represents leaders from many scientific disciplines who will bring a diversity of experience and views. I will charge PCAST with advising me about national strategies to nurture and sustain a culture of scientific innovation.

Mundie has been with Microsoft since 1992 and occupied the position of chief technical officer for advanced strategies and policy, before being “upgraded” to his current role. Reporting directly to Microsoft Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer, Mundie is responsible with overseeing the company's long-term strategy and investments. At the same time, the chief research and strategy officer has a long history of collaborating with government leaders and business around the world on issues related to technology policy, but also regulation and standards. In contrast, Ozzie is focusing more on the present business strategy of Microsoft, and is the architect of the software giant's new path, which takes it into the Cloud via Software plus Services.

“I’m honored to have this opportunity to advise President Obama and Vice President Biden on science and technology policy,” Mundie revealed. “I look forward to working with other members of the council to determine how science and technology can help address some of the nation’s biggest challenges.”